Facts and Myths

Altered rabbits are healthier and live longer than unaltered rabbits.The risk of reproductive cancers (ovarian, uterine, mammarian) for an unspayed female rabbit stands at is
virtually eliminated by spaying your female rabbit. Your neutered male
rabbit will live longer as well, given that he won't be tempted to fight
with other animals (rabbits, cats, etc.) due to his sexual aggression.

Altered rabbits make better companions. They are
calmer, more loving, and dependable once the undeniable urge to mate has
been removed. In addition, rabbits are less prone to destructive
(chewing, digging) and aggressive (biting, lunging, circling, growling)
behavior after surgery.

Avoidance of obnoxious behavior. Unneutered male
rabbits spray, and both males and females are much easier to litter
train, and much more reliably trained, after they have been altered.

Altered rabbits won't contribute to the problem of overpopulation of rabbits. Over
7 million adorable dogs, cats, and rabbits are killed in animal
shelters in this country every year. In addition, unwanted rabbits are
often abandoned in fields, parks, or on city streets to fend for
themselves, where they suffer from starvation, sickness, and are easy
prey to other animals or traffic accidents. Those rabbits who are sold
to pet stores don't necessarily fare any better, as pet stores sell pets
to anyone with the money to buy, and don't check on what kind
of home they will go to. Many of these rabbits will be sold as snake
food, or as a pet for a small child who will soon "outgrow" the rabbit.

Altered rabbits can safely have a friend to play with. Rabbits
are social animals and enjoy the company of other rabbits. But unless
your rabbit is altered, he or she cannot have a friend, either of the
opposite sex, or the same sex, due to sexual and aggressive behaviors
triggered by hormones.

Is surgery safe on rabbits?

Surgery can be as safe on rabbits as on any animal. Unfortunately,
the vast majority of veterinarians aren't experienced with safe rabbit
surgery techniques. Don't allow a veterinarian with little or no
experience with rabbits spay or neuter your rabbit. Using isofluorene as
the anesthetic and appropriate surgical and after-surgery techniques,
spaying and neutering of rabbits is as safe as for any other animal.

At what should rabbits be spayed or neutered?

Females can be spayed as soon as they sexually mature, usually around
4 months of age, but many veterinarians prefer to wait until they are 6
months old, as surgery is riskier on a younger rabbit.

Males can be neutered as soon as the testicles descend, usually
around 3-1/2 months of age, but many veterinarians prefer to wait until
they are 5 months old.

When is a rabbit too old to be spayed or neutered?

Veterinarians will have their own opinions on this, but in general,
after a rabbit is 6 years old, anesthetics and surgery become more
risky.

It is always a good idea, in a rabbit over 2 years of age, to have a
very thorough health check done, including full blood work. This may be
more expensive than the surgery, but it will help detect any condition
that could make the surgery more risky. This is especially important if
anesthetics other than isofluorene are used.

Can you tell if a female rabbit has already been spayed?

The probability is very high that she hasn't. One can shave the
tummy and look for a spay scar. However, when veterinarians use certain
stitching techniques, there is no scar whatsoever. Hopefully, these
veterinarians will tattoo the tummy to indicate the spay has been done,
but otherwise, the only way of knowing is to proceed with the surgery.

*Created By The House Rabbit Society

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